Today is a new day. Today I choose to forgive myself. I am no longer willing to feed into a cycle of negative thoughts towards myself. I choose to create and feed a cycle of positive thoghts.
I have learned that it's important to treat myself the same way I would treat a friend. I am learning to forgive myself. If I don't forgive myself for yesterday, then I pollute myself today with negativity. It's just like me holding a grudge against my friend, except that I hold it against myself. Would I treat a friend that way? No. Then I won't treat myself that way.
There may be things I thought I "should have done" for months, for years, or even my whole life, but today is a new day. It's a fresh start. I wipe the slate clean and begin again. In the past, I may have judged myself, been angry at myself, or even punished myself. For example, I haven't been writing as much as I want. In the past, I would feel bad that I haven't been writing. I wouldn't forgive myself. And I would punish myself by not writing today. But today, I choose to forgive myself and let myself write.
If I must, I say "Annie, I'm sorry I haven't been taking the time to write." And I help Annie say back to me, "I forgive you. How about we write today?" And I say, "Thank you! Yes! Let's write today." And I write.
If Annie is really angry and says, "You never write. You never stick to anything." Then I say, "I'm sorry. I know I don't have the best track record, but I'm not willing to give up. I can't change the past, but I can do something today. Let's write today."
I am not perfect but I am making progress. I am feeling bad right now about something I have wanted to do and haven't done because it's scary to me. God, will you help me today? Will you help me to take action and forgive myself? I think I'll do it now, so my slate is clean :-)